The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-01

| tor OF large and influential family
| That family, at the time the tribe
broke up, moved away from Roanoke
section, went up to Western North
Carolina, perhaps to Buncombe.
Lowry's descendents,. they say, were
"leaders among men, Governor
James Lowry Swain, who after serving
as Chief Magistrate of North Carolina
was for over a quarter of a century
President of the State University, was
a desCendent, as was also Lieutenant
Governor James Lowry Robinson, of
this State
They have always, their traditions
say, been warm friends of the white
people. 1t is said that long ago they
fought Bonnell (BarnwelD in the wars
against the Indian tribes. Many of
| them were in the continental army IN
the war Of the revolution, and com
psny was sent to fight the British in
the war of 1872. The English names
of men in these companies are remark
able as those of Whites colonists III
many cases. Some Of the Croatans
were slave owners, and some kept
houses of entertainment for travellers.
Their cleanliness is characteristic.
Physicians who practice among them
speak of this and say they never hesi-
tate about sleeping or eating in the
house of a Croatan. They are a hos
pitable people also, and very obliging.
They are proud of their race and have
far stronger race prejudice than either
whites Or negroes. They are the best
Of friends, but the most dangerous Of
enemies. Indian characteristics are
marked. Their fondness for cloth of
a red color IS remarkable, and in this
most of their women are dressed.
They march in "Indian fle"- in their
travels. They are reticent unless one
gains their confidence. They are of
all colors, from pure white to black.
Many of them can with difficulty be
distinguished from white people.
Their women are in many cases
beautiful, with superb figures, as vo-
luptuous IN some cases as those of
the far-famed Hawaiian maidens. One
of their most beautiful women was
Rhoda Lowry, who was sometimes
spoken of as "Queen Rhoda." Their
movements are grace itself, and the
dress is worn in most becoming way,
though simple in texture and design.
x
The Croatans were recognized as
white people, and attended the same
schools with white pupils. But in 1895,
another curious thing in their eventful
history occurred. They were deprived
of the right to vote, and classed g free
persons of color" under an amend
ment to the State Constitution, adopted
that year which prohibited that class
from voting or attending school. The
Croatans allege that they were de-
prlved of voting to effect change in
the politics of their county. They
were not allowed to attend school from
1885 to1968. Since the latter date
some of the poorer class attended the
public colored schools. But that is at
an end. They are now a race apart,
fully recognized and cared for educa-
tionally.
Some seventeen years ago member
of the tribe, Henry Berry Lowry, dis
graced it by becoming the chief OF
band of outlaws, which for months
terrorized that section and caused
national sensation. Finally they were
killed and the blot was wiped out.
x = X
Such is the history of the Croatans,
from 1887 to 1887. They were dwellers
in Tyrrell, Dare, etc, who happened
to be on Roanoke Island. They in
duced Whites colonists to go to the
mainland with them. They intermar-
ried and out of regard for the white
race, the latter's family names were
chosen. After years of lite in Eastern
Carolina the tribe, after the manner
of many others, moved to other places
and chose Robson as its main abiding
place. The rest has been told, part on
we'll grounded tradition, part on we'll
known facts. The Croatans of to-day
deserve a double place IN history.
1t is pleasant to mention that the
State Of North Carolina, which named
its capital Raleigh, after the worthy
Sir Walter, has named its Easternmost
county Dare, in honor of that little
tribe whose eyes first saw the light
there, and whose name goes down into
the romance of history.
F. A. OLDs.